NASCAR Rumor: Rick Ware Racing Set to Lose Another Star Amidst Spire Motorsports’ Massive Truck Series Shake-Up

It seems like history is set to repeat itself. Earlier this year, Rick Ware Racing swapped Justin Haley with Corey LaJoie for the final seven races of the Cup Series season, a dramatic reshuffle for both teams as they look to prepare for the 2025 season. If rumors are to be believed, part-time RWR driver Kaz Grala could also be moving to Spire Motorsports’ Truck Series team, which would be a big move for both parties.

It might have come later than usual, but it seems like NASCAR’s Silly Season is well and truly here. The rumors flying around leave plenty of unanswered questions that are only open to speculation at this point.

• How will Kaz Grala’s potential move to Spire Motorsports affect Rick Ware Racing?
• Will the Cup Series driver want to ply his trade in the Truck Series once again?

A sense of déjà vu for Rick Ware Racing

Jeff Dickerson’s team currently fields three Chevrolet Silverados in the Truck Series, with Rajah Caruth behind the wheel of the No. 71 and the No. 77 reserved for Chase Purdy. As things stand, seven different drivers have competed in the No. 7 truck this year, including the likes of Corey LaJoie, Kyle Busch, Connor Zilisch, Sammy Smith, and Connor Mosack.

Rumors suggest Spire Motorsports may expand to four trucks, with Kaz Grala, Andrés Pérez de Lara, and Brenden ‘Butterbean’ Queen as potential drivers. Grala, who has faced a challenging season in the Cup Series with Rick Ware Racing, could benefit from a return to the Truck Series. The 25-year-old’s best Cup finish this season is 14th at Atlanta, and he’s yet to lead a lap. Further, a Truck Series move could reignite his career. Grala, who became the youngest Truck Series winner in 2017 at Daytona, has raced part-time in recent years, most recently with Tricon Garage in 2023.

In the three races behind the wheel of the No. 1 Toyota, Kaz Grala’s best result was a ninth-place finish at the Circuit of the Americas at the 2023 XPEL 225, a finish he hasn’t improved on since. If that isn’t an indication that the driver needs to get back to basics, even if that means stepping away from the Cup Series, what is?

Grala might need to take a step back to take two steps forward, which could ultimately help his NASCAR career in the long run. Whether he chooses to make the move remains to be seen.

Kaz Grala keeping his options open for 2025

The Massachusetts native has competed for several teams in his short career, eagerly trying to prove himself across NASCAR’s various disciplines. Kaz Grala typically thrives in smaller, underfunded teams, who are happy to give him a platform to prove his talent. With results not backing up the expectations outlined by the team, the 25-year-old racing driver isn’t closing the door on a potential move elsewhere for the 2025 season.

Sharing his expectations about the future, Grala said, “There’s nothing in stone anywhere, but I’m happy to talk to anyone and everyone. In my position, that’s what you have to do. My focus has been all year to go out and perform on the racetrack. There are a lot of factors involved in figuring out where you’re going to be year-to-year that are frankly outside of your control and outside of the racecar.” He went on to say, “If we have a weekend or two where we really shine and make a statement, I’m sure there will be plenty of conversations internally and externally about next year.”

Kaz Grala is expected to compete in all five remaining Cup Series races before the 2024 season ends. In many ways, the Rick Ware Racing driver can consider them to be an audition, hoping to prove his talent to future employers by securing some strong finishes.

While winning a race might be a far-fetched possibility, given how high the stakes are because of the playoffs, he should aim for consistent top-ten results. With age on his side, Grala has time on his hands to take a step back and reassess his NASCAR career. Building his confidence in the lower tiers could eventually help him develop as a racing driver and emerge as a stronger version of himself for the Cup Series in the future.